Lavatera plant named ‘Duet’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Lavatera plant named ‘Duet’, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; large rotate flowers that are light red purple, lighter red purple or white in color; and good garden performance and winter hardiness.

Botanical designation: Lavatera hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUET’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lavatera plant, botanically known as Lavatera hybrida, commercially known as Rose Mallow, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duet’.

The new Lavatera plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hummelo, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new Lavatera plants with unique flower coloration.

The new Lavatera plant originated from a cross-pollination in 2015 of Lavatera hybrida ‘White Angel’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Lavatera hybrida ‘Summer Kisses’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Lavatera plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor in 2015 as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Hummelo, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Lavatera plant by softwood cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Lisse, The Netherlands since 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Lavatera plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lavatera have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duet’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duet’ as a new and distinct Lavatera plant:

-   -   1. Upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large rotate flowers that are light red purple, lighter red         purple or white in color.     -   6. Good garden performance and winter hardiness.

Plants of the new Lavatera can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘White Angel’. Plants of the new Lavatera differ primarily from plants of ‘White Angel’ in flower color as plants of the new Lavatera are light red purple, lighter red purple or white in color whereas plants of ‘White Angel’ have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Lavatera can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Summer Kisses’. Plants of the new Lavatera differ primarily from plants of ‘Summer Kisses’ in flower color as plants of the new Lavatera are light red purple, lighter red purple or white in color whereas plants of ‘Summer Kisses’ have pale pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Lavatera can be compared to plants of Lavatera hybrida ‘Barnsley Baby’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,163. Plants of the new Lavatera differ primarily from plants of the ‘Barnsley Baby’ in flower color as plants of the new Lavatera are light red purple, lighter red purple or white in color whereas plants of ‘Barnsley Baby’ have white-colored flowers with red purple-colored centers.

Plants of the new Lavatera can be also compared to plants of Lavatera hybrida ‘Sweet Dreams’, not patented. Plants of the new Lavatera differ primarily from plants of the ‘Sweet Dreams’ in flower color as plants of the new Lavatera are light red purple, lighter red purple or white in color whereas plants of ‘Sweet Dreams’ have pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Lavatera plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Lavatera plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duet’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Duet’ at different stages of development.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 25-cm containers during the summer in an outdoor nursery in Lisserbroek, The Netherlands under cultural practices typical of commercial Lavatera production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranged from ranged from 12° C. to 22° C. Plants were one year old when the photographs and description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lavatera hybrida ‘Duet’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Lavatera hybrida ‘White Angel’, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Lavatera hybrida ‘Summer Kisses’,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By softwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four weeks at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About six             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness; fleshy; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; upright and             somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; broad inverted             triangle in overall shape; vigorous growth habit and rapid             growth rate.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with typically about             nine primary branches each with about five secondary lateral             branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height.—About 87 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 77.5 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length, primary branches.—About 44.7 cm.         -   Diameter, primary branches.—About 7 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 5.9 cm.         -   Aspect.—About 25° to 70° from vertical.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture and luster.—Densely pubescent; matte.         -   Color, developing and developed.—Close to 143C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 6.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate in overall outline; palmately lobed.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Truncate to reniform.         -   Margin.—Crenate to serrate; shallowly palmately-lobed with             divergent sinuses.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Densely             pubescent; slightly rugose; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137D. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137B; venation,             close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 144C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 6.1 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Densely pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface:             Close to 147B. Color, lower surface: Close to 143B.         -   Stipules.—Quantity and arrangement: Two, opposite, at the             petiole attachment to the lateral branch. Length: About             1.2 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately pubescent;             matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower appearance and arrangement.—Large rotate flowers;             flowers, arranged in terminal racemes or axillary; freely             flowering habit with usually about 16 flowers developing per             inflorescence and about 370 flowers developing per plant             during the flowering season; flowers face mostly upright to             slightly outwardly.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants typically flower during the             summer in The Netherlands; plants begin flowering about ten             weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about ten days on the plant;             flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence length.—About 39.7 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 8.8 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 8.1 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; matte.             Color: Close to 145B; longitudinal ribs, close to 147C to             147D.         -   Petals.—Arrangement and quantity: Single whorl of five             petals; petals separate. Length: About 4 cm. Width: About             2.4 cm. Shape: Sagittate. Apex: Deeply emarginate to cleft.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Smooth and mostly glabrous; at the base and basal             margins, moderately pubescent; slightly glossy. Texture and             luster, lower surface: Smooth and mostly glabrous; at the             base and basal margins, moderately pubescent; moderately             glossy. Color, light red purple-colored flowers: When             opening, upper surface: Close to between 73B and 73C;             towards the base, close to 61D. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 62B; towards the base, close to 62A. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to between 73B and 75B; towards the             base, close to 68B; venation, close to 68B; colors do not             fade with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to             73C; towards the base, close to 68B to 68C; venation, close             to 68B; colors do not fade with development. Color, lighter             red purple-colored flowers: When opening, upper surface:             Close to 69D; towards the base, close to 70D. When opening,             lower surface: Close to 69D; towards the base, close to 69A.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 69D; towards the base,             close to 70D; venation, close to 73C; colors do not fade             with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 69D;             towards the base, close to 69A; venation, close to 73C;             colors do not fade with development. Color, white-colored             flowers: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             NN155D; towards the base, close to 62D. Fully opened, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D; venation, close to             NN155D; colors do not change with development.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement and quantity: Five in a single whorl.             Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:             Apiculate. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Moderately pubescent; matte.             Color: When developing, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             145B. Fully developed, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             144A to 144B; towards the base, close to 145A; apex tinged             with close to 177D.         -   Floral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About three in a             single whorl subtending the calyx. Length: About 1.2 cm.             Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Broadly oblong. Color, upper             surface: Close to 138B. Color, lower surface: Close to 138B;             towards the base, close to 145C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 35.9 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Aspect: Erect to about 30° from the stem axis. Strength:             Strong, flexible. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent;             matte. Color: Close to 137C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Aspect: About 20° from the peduncle axis. Strength: Strong,             flexible. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; matte.             Color: Close to 138B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity of stamens per             flower: About 60. Filament length: About 6 mm. Filament             color: Light red purple-colored flowers: Close to 75C.             Lighter red purple-colored flowers: Close to 69B.             White-colored flowers: Close to 69C to 69D. Anther shape:             Double oblong. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther width:             About 0.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 155A. Amount of pollen:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 159D. Gynoecium: Quantity             of pistils per flower: Observed only on light red             purple-colored flowers, about nine. Pistil length: About             1.5 cm. Style length: About 1.1 cm. Style color: Close to             148D. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma appearance:             Three-parted, cleft. Stigma color: Close to 62C. Ovary             color: Close to 145B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Lavatera. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lavatera have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind, drought,     temperatures ranging from about −12 C. to about 40° C. and to be     suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 11. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Lavatera have     not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Lavatera plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lavatera plant named ‘Duet’ as illustrated and described. 